Fairhope City Councilman Jay Robinson is in the running to defend his Place 4 seat and serve for a third term.
The corporate defense attorney and family man grew up in Mobile County but has called Fairhope home since 2006. Robinson also calls Fairhope "a special place" that he wants to keep that way. He said he and his wife, Alex, are raising their four children in the city and have been active in the community.
"From the moment we arrived, we have tried to participate and be a part of this community in every way that we could," Robinson told 1819 News. "From volunteering, my wife worked at the city for several years, but we have tried to volunteer in different areas from me being a baseball coach to teaching Sunday school, to Bay cleanup, coastal cleanup."
"The people in this community are what make it so special," he added. "And I want to do everything I can as a councilman to preserve what brought everybody to Fairhope to begin with."
Along with his law experience and degree from Samford University's Cumberland School of Law, Robinson said his finance degree from the University of South Alabama has benefited him while serving on the council.
"As someone educated in finance, but mostly as a lawyer, I take the legal ramifications of every issue into account when I make decisions for our community," he said. "Because so many things sound good on paper or sound good as an opinion, but if you don't determine whether or not they are legal, you can put the community at risk in a variety of ways."
Robinson is running for re-election because he wants to continue serving thoughtfully and steadily. Smart investments in infrastructure, responsible spending, improving parks and green spaces, supporting youth programs and preserving the city's character are among Robinson's priorities.
"I want Fairhope to remain a city where families thrive, small businesses are supported, neighborhoods feel safe and connected, and our parks, green spaces and public spaces are cared for as well," he said.
Robinson said community involvement is essential when building a successful community. As for those who don't feel heard, he said he wants to consider everyone's concerns.
"I would apologize if we've ever made anyone feel as if their opinion wasn't heard or considered," Robinson said. "We definitely aspire to contact and interact with as much of our community as possible. Sometimes we are posed with questions or issues that simply are outside of our control and it's tough because, as you might know, people expect that the city council controls everything in the city, and unfortunately, that's just not true."
The number one challenge Robinson has identified is increased growth and development pressures. He said he wants to ensure the City makes sound choices that reflect the values of its citizens.
"The decisions that we make are not just about today," Robinson added. "It's about the Fairhope my children will inherit and even my grandchildren. So, I want to be a part of building a future that honors what's made this city special while preparing us for what's ahead."
During his time in office, the City has enacted four separate moratoriums and extended one of them. Robinson said moratoriums are a tool the City can use to ensure specific benchmarks are met as the City improves the community and upgrades infrastructure.
"Infrastructure upgrades not only supply new development, but they help provide better, more efficient service to the neighborhoods that have been in Fairhope for 30 years or more," Robinson explained.
The City has also refined subdivision regulations and purchased green space and other properties for community and recreational use.
Robinson said his biggest asset to the community is his ability to listen and have an open mind when hearing from his constituents.
Robinson has served on the Fairhope Recreation Board, the Fairhope Youth Baseball Board, and the Planning and Zoning Commission. He is a volunteer and Sunday School teacher at Fairhope United Methodist Church.
The municipal election is on August 26.
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